WASHINGTON, DC (April 18, 2013) –The following is a statement from BlueGreen Alliance Executive Director David Foster on the tragic explosion in West, Texas:

“It is with a heavy heart that we offer our condolences and sympathy to the families and loved ones of those who have lost their lives or been injured in the explosion at a facility in West, Texas. Our thoughts are with those who will have tough days ahead as they recover from this tragic event.

“While we do not yet know the cause or the full extent of the damage — and we wait to learn how this tragedy could have been averted — we do know that safety for workers and communities in our country should be the paramount concern for government, business and community leaders. The Associated Press has reported that the facility was last inspected by OSHA in 1985. If this is true, it is a stunning indictment of the underfunding of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which only has the resources to inspect each of America’s workplaces once every 26 to 243 years, depending on which state you live in.

“We must redouble our efforts to enforce laws that protect workers and communities, provide the responsible agencies with adequate resources, and stop attempts to weaken or eliminate them. We must endeavor to make every job a good, green and safe job, so we can ensure that our families and communities are safeguarded from harm.”